Nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) is an effective approach to improve the clinical status of rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis patients. Also, it results in reduction of concentration of survivin and RANKL in saliva and plasma.

This study aimed to explore the effect of NSPT on rheumatoid arthritis activity, periodontal status, and levels of biomarkers in plasma and saliva of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis.

In this short-term controlled clinical trial, 66 participants were segregated into three groups: (i) People without periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (n=19), (ii) People without periodontitis and with rheumatoid arthritis (n=23), and (iii)  People with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 24).

Evaluation of the Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) assessment, full-mouth periodontal clinical check up, and detection of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), RANKL/OPG, and survivin in plasma and saliva were carried out at baseline (T1) and 45 days following NSPT (T2). 

In people with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis, NSPT demonstrated efficacy in improving the periodontal condition. At T2, considerable decline in DAS-28 were witnessed in people with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis. A remarkably elevated levels of survivin and RANKL were noted in the saliva and plasma from rheumatoid arthritis individuals (with and without periodontitis) in comparison with controls.

Furthermore, survivin and RANKL illustrated positive correlations with DAS-28 and a considerable decline at T2 in people with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis. 

NSPT effectively improves the clinical status of both periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis people, and also decreases the concentration of biomarkers like RANKL and survivin in plasma and saliva.